Sweden to select builder of four new Luleå-class frigates in early 2026.

Sweden plans to select the supplier for its new Luleå-class frigates in early 2026, with Saab, Naval Group, Babcock, and Navantia competing for the program.

As reported by Reuters on November 24, 2025, Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson announced during a press conference held with French counterpart Catherine Vautrin that the country will select the supplier for its new Luleå-class frigates in early 2026. Saab, Naval Group, Babcock, and Navantia are competing for the program, which is based on existing European designs adapted for Swedish requirements. The four-ship effort represents Sweden’s largest surface fleet expansion since the early 1980s and aims to field two ships by 2030 and two more by 2035. Senior Swedish officials describe the schedule as ambitious yet necessary, given the rapid expansion of defense requirements after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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The new Luleå-class frigates are expected to surpass 120 meters in length and displace between 3,000 and 4,500 tonnes, placing them well above the Göteborg- and Visby-classes corvettes that currently form the backbone of the Swedish surface fleet. (Picture source: Saab)

The ships, based on existing designs with Swedish systems integration and industrial participation, are expected to enter service beginning in 2030, with the first two targeted for that date and the remaining two by 2035, and will become the largest surface combatants Sweden has operated since its last Östergötland- and Halland-class destroyers left service in the early 1980s. Their introduction reflects an effort to move beyond the traditional focus on smaller Visby-class corvettes toward larger multi-role warships able to support national missions and NATO operations. This shift follows an intense expansion of Swedish defense policy after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which pushed Stockholm to accelerate programs previously planned on longer timelines.

The new Luleå-class frigates are expected to surpass 120 meters in length and displace between 3,000 and 4,500 tonnes, depending on the final configuration, placing them well above the Göteborg- and Visby-classes corvettes that currently form the backbone of the Swedish surface fleet. Such sizing would increase the total surface tonnage of the Swedish Navy by more than a factor of ten, illustrating the magnitude of the transition from a coastal defense focus toward broader blue-water capability. 100-meter hulls are relatively uncommon among recent Western surface combatants, yet several non-Western designs occupy that range; for instance, the Japanese Mogami-class offers similar dimensions to those anticipated for the Luleå-class. For Sweden, such growth in ship size also introduces substantial challenges, particularly in crew generation and sustainment, as larger hulls require more personnel and more complex support structures, further influencing internal debates as Swedish planners continue to refine the program.

Saab Kockums had initially been contracted in 2021 to work on a new Visby Gen 2 corvette, but evolving strategic needs led to the cancellation of that effort in favor of the new Luleå-class frigate program. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration then launched a market survey to identify mature designs that could be adapted to Swedish needs to mitigate schedule risks. The aim is to avoid delays similar to those experienced in earlier naval programs, which had pushed delivery timelines further into the future. Previously, an initial work was undertaken by Saab and Babcock based on the British Type 31 design, yet that collaboration has so far produced limited visible progress. Other foreign shipbuilders have therefore gained prominence, and Sweden may opt to build hulls abroad and complete outfitting domestically, a model previously used for the intelligence ship Artemis, whose hull was constructed in Poland before final integration in Karlskrona. This approach is presented in Sweden as a pragmatic option combining schedule assurance with domestic industrial involvement.

France has been particularly active in promoting Naval Group’s FDI frigate as a candidate for the program, with multiple statements from French officials outlining their readiness to deliver one fully equipped ship by 2030. French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin emphasized that France already operates the offered model and is prepared to establish a partnership that includes Swedish industry, especially Saab. The lead French ship, Amiral Ronarc’h, completed sea trials and entered service in October 2025, demonstrating a digital architecture and combat system already validated at sea. In baseline French configuration, the FDI carries 16 Sylver A50 vertical launch cells for Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles, with export versions for Greece featuring 32 cells. The Thales Sea Fire radar is highlighted as the ship’s primary air defense sensor, providing coverage at significant ranges. France has announced that the Admiral Ronarc’h will visit Sweden early next year for demonstrations, reflecting the intensity of the campaign to secure Stockholm’s interest and expand bilateral defense ties.

Additional bidders include the Swedish Saab, the British Babcock, and the Spanish Navantia, which offers ship designs ranging from roughly 2,200 tonnes to more than 6,000 tonnes, including the Bonifaz-class with its integrated mast and substantial anti-submarine warfare capabilities. These options illustrate the range of possible solutions under evaluation, from designs closely aligned with Swedish systems architecture to larger foreign platforms adapted for national requirements. Official statements emphasize that costs remain undisclosed and that the Defence Materiel Administration and the military will advise the government before a final selection. This will also be Sweden’s first opportunity in decades to introduce large surface combatants, as the Swedish Navy has not operated ships of similar size since the Östergötland-class destroyers, retired in 1982.

France’s ongoing interest in the Swedish frigate program follows its own interest in acquiring Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft. France’s intention to purchase GlobalEye was announced earlier in the year, with a contract expected in the near future, and French officials reiterated during their Stockholm visit that the GlobalEye is viewed as a priority. Statements stress reciprocal industrial cooperation and suggest that although the frigate and GlobalEye programs are not formally linked, both sides acknowledge that decisions in one domain are likely to influence the other. Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson highlighted that the air defense component of the future frigates will be essential for supporting both national and allied missions, and that the ambition remains to have two frigates in service by 2030 and another two by 2035. This timeline is described as ambitious but necessary to strengthen Sweden’s emerging role as a NATO member capable of contributing to integrated air and missile defense in Northern Europe.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.